Chapter 31: Battle Grandmaster

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Battle Grandmaster

"Murong Kaixin?"

Gongsun Jie’s senses were already sharp, but after being enhanced by Demon Qi, they became even more acute. He detected Murong Kaixin the instant he appeared.

"Ignore him. Focus on the game," Li Ye said in a low voice.

Of course, he could also sense what Gongsun Jie had detected.

But at this moment, he was fighting Gongsun Jie for the final ball and couldn’t afford any distractions.

This was the first proper, complete soccer match he’d played since arriving in this world, and it had consumed an immense amount of his energy.

The Demon Qi had been steadily transforming his body ever since the match began.

Every brutal collision, every spectacular goal, even every cheer from the crowd, gave him a surge of Demon Qi.

Moreover, this match would determine if the league could even launch as planned.

For both public and personal reasons, he had to see this match through to the end. There could be no more incidents.

Although there were no signs of him losing himself yet, Li Ye worried that if he didn’t develop his Derived Skills soon, his Demon Energy Value would be too high to pass the Demon Hunting Bureau’s detection when he returned.

...

Murong Kaixin’s appearance ultimately distracted Gongsun Jie.

In a moment of distraction, he was shoved aside by Li Ye, who followed up with a heavy blow to his face that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Li Ye raised his foot and shot.

The soccer ball shot out like a cannonball, spinning as it rocketed forward. With a sound like tearing air, it slammed viciously into the goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper sprayed a mouthful of blood as he was knocked backward. The spinning ball carried him into the goal, sending him flying more than ten meters before he finally crashed to the ground, ball and all...

Ever since Li Ye’s first goal of the match—when the ball struck the goalkeeper in the face, knocked him unconscious, and then ricocheted into the net—every subsequent goal had been aimed directly at the keeper.

Scoring a goal by blasting the goalkeeper out of the way had seemingly become a new tradition, a testament to the depth of a forward’s Skill Level.

...

"GOAL!"

Tong Yi cheered right on cue. "A brilliant goal! Divine Dragon Hand Lord Li breaks through Sect Leader Gongsun’s blockade, fakes out two defenders, and charges in alone to score the final goal of the match! The score is now finalized at seven to five! Let’s congratulate the Fun People Club on clinching the first victory of the league!"

As the commentator, Tong Yi had a full view of the field and had also spotted Murong Kaixin appearing on the sidelines.

Tong Yi had never met Murong Kaixin, but he could sense the man’s power. To prevent any incidents, he ended the match prematurely, with several minutes still left on the clock.

It wasn’t like the spectators knew exactly how long a match was supposed to be. Whatever he said, went.

Earth-shattering cheers and curses erupted at the same time.

The raw, visceral nature of the match—fist meeting flesh, every blow drawing blood—stirred the primitive hunting instincts buried deep in everyone’s bones. Any sport can be linked back to the hunt, and people are always eager to cheer for their chosen side.

Besides, the match had been an absolute visual spectacle, and every spectator felt they had gotten their money’s worth.

As for the people cursing, most of them were people who had bet on the Profound Light Sect to win.

But they were cursing too soon. Every match to come in the league would teach them the true meaning of brutality...

The other players, from both the Fun People Club and the Profound Light Sect, were basking in the crowd’s cheers and the pleasant sensation of their rising Spiritual Power. The moment the match ended, they all felt a boost from the Demon Power, and ecstatic smiles spread across their faces.

Li Ye and Gongsun Jie, however, went over to Murong Kaixin.

"Grandmaster Murong," Gongsun Jie greeted him first.

He did this to prevent the Grandmaster from attacking Li Ye in a fit of rage.

As far as he knew, while Li Ye might be stronger than him, the gap wasn’t huge. He was certainly no match for a Grandmaster. If Li Ye fell to Murong Kaixin, the path to immortality he had finally found would be cut short.

"You’re Lord Li?" Murong Kaixin looked crazed, his bloodshot eyes staring at Li Ye.

"I am." Li Ye smiled slightly. "Greetings, Grandmaster Murong."

"Are you really a descended Immortal?"

A formidable aura suddenly erupted from Murong Kaixin. Under its pressure, the surrounding people instinctively retreated a few steps, Gongsun Jie included.

To Li Ye, it felt as though Murong Kaixin had suddenly transformed into a bloodthirsty beast.

The world itself seemed to change color.

In that instant, his vision narrowed until only Murong Kaixin remained.

Murong Kaixin stood perfectly still, yet Li Ye felt as if his every escape route had been sealed. It seemed that the slightest movement would bring a torrential storm of attacks down upon him.

’So this is a Grandmaster?’

Li Ye was stunned. ’No wonder they say a Grandmaster can Divide Rivers and Break Mountains.’

’He’s actually mastered Presence.’

’This is an ability many Demon Hunters lack. It’s an aura that can only be cultivated by someone who has either held a high position for a long time or has clawed their way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.’

The moment Murong Kaixin unleashed his imposing aura, Li Ye knew. ’At my current level, I’m no match for him. Not even with the help of my Demon Qi.’

’As expected of one of this world’s favored few, someone who could reach its very peak.’

"Fight me," Murong Kaixin said suddenly, as if he had seen through Li Ye’s apprehension.

"Grandmaster Murong, you can’t! Li Ye isn’t from this world! We can only befriend him, not make him an enemy!" Gongsun Jie’s face paled as he spoke frantically. "If you harm him, you’ll be severing this entire world’s path to advancement!"

"If he’s truly an Immortal, why would he fear a fight with me? And if he’s not, then his death means nothing." As he spoke, Murong Kaixin’s aura grew even more powerful, making him seem like an immovable mountain.

"You old scoundrel, Murong! If you want to harm Lord Li, you’ll have to get through me first!" Enraged, Gongsun Jie stepped forward to block Li Ye. "Don’t you know he still hasn’t recovered from his grievous injuries...?"

"Silence," Murong Kaixin said with a wave of his hand. Gongsun Jie was sent flying backward like a kite with a cut string, blood spraying freely from his mouth.

Li Ye was stunned.

’Damn!’

’All that talk about being a Half-Step Grandmaster, but he’s a total pushover in front of a real one!’

’That time you fought a Grandmaster, they must have just been toying with you and letting you save face!’

’So it’s true. A Grandmaster and everyone else are practically different species!’

"Do you dare fight me?" Murong Kaixin asked Li Ye again, his voice low and heavy.

’Don’t fight him. At your current level, you’re no match for him,’ the Team Emblem’s nervous voice echoed in Li Ye’s mind.

"Alright." Li Ye ignored the Team Emblem and instead nodded in agreement.

He could feel an unprecedented battle lust radiating from Murong Kaixin.

He knew that at this point, nothing could prevent this fight.

’Perhaps this is the pride of a top master in this world.’

’Becoming a Grandmaster is truly no accident...’

’A Grandmaster should have the courage to raise their blade to the heavens!’

’It’s just like how the people on Earth never stopped fighting back against demons.’

’Are you crazy?’ the Team Emblem shrieked in his mind, practically frantic. ’If you die, I’ll be forcibly sent back! You can still escape!’

’Escape?’

’If I run, I’ll never get another chance to establish the league. Without the league, how am I supposed to fight the other two sources of Demon Qi?!’

’Run?’

’Easy for you to say!’

’His aura has me completely locked down. I’d be lucky to escape. If I turn my back to run, I’ll probably die even faster.’

’A Grandmaster is strong, that’s for sure. But my recovery is also incredibly fast now. As long as I’m not killed instantly, I should have a fighting chance against Murong Kaixin.’

Li Ye cursed inwardly, ignored the Team Emblem, and turned to walk back onto the field. "Shi Xiang," he called out as he walked, "assemble the team! We’re fighting a Grandmaster!"

"Got it." Shi Xiang had noticed something was wrong long ago. The members of the Fun People Club were already gathered, ready to back up Li Ye at a moment’s notice.

They were already in the same boat as Li Ye; their fates were inextricably linked.

The injuries Liu Guangsheng, Fan Jie, and the others had sustained were already healed. They stood behind Shi Xiang, their expressions grim, but not a single one of them backed down.

"Lord Li, count me in." Gongsun Jie also stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and stood next to Shi Xiang.

Being sent flying by a single blow from Murong Kaixin had shown him the true gap between himself and a Grandmaster. The realization was crushing, but it also solidified his resolve to follow Li Ye. Only with Li Ye did he have a chance to surpass the Grandmaster realm.

"One of you, step out."

Seeing Gongsun Jie step forward, Li Ye shouted to the team.

An unknown defender in the group voluntarily stepped back. After playing so many games, everyone knew that eleven was the ideal number for a team.

Li Qiang, the Precepts Hall Elder of the Profound Light Sect; He Zhang, the Instructor Hall Elder; and the first disciple, Cao Bin, also silently joined the formation, replacing members of the Fun People Club whose Skill Levels were lower than their own.

Everyone who had reaped the benefits of the Spiritual Power was now spontaneously moving to ensure Li Ye’s safety.

Protecting Li Ye meant protecting their own path to immortality.